My out-of-the-box idea:
A man contemplating adultery and realizing the consequences (play off of Proverbs 6:27)

I agree with Greghory - it takes me most of the week to try to come up with something out-of-the-box, and sometimes it never comes (which is usually a no-submitting week for me). I struggle with this more than the writing, because once I have a good idea it's not hard to write it.

Yelling "fire" in a crowded theatre
Sound of sirens
People trapped in burning houses
Heat and Smoke
Hell

Since I'm more comfortable with poetry (I'm fictionally challenged), I tried to think of different ideas with fire:

Fire of different, unexpected colors--green, turquoise, blue
Fire of different attributes or effects --cold, healing, protecting
Fire of different consistencies--solid, liquid
Personifications of fire--for example, a fire that got lost; fire as a narrator
Lessons learned from fire

I make free-writing lists when I first see the topic. Sometimes I just google the word or related words to see if I see an idea to branch out from. Then the topic itself consumes my thoughts till an idea strikes (or I have to go searching further for one). Often, I'll think about it before going to sleep (a mistake if I want to go to sleep soon) and I'll have an idea in the night or when I awaken.

I jot down verses to get started that seldom resemble the finished product but contain a germ of idea that I'll use. Then I write and rewrite--counting out meter, checking rhymes, looking for cliches or repeated words. The Thesaurus is my special friend.
I hope this helps someone trying to get started in writing poetry.

1. The burning bush
2. Comfort of a fireplace
3. Burning something - house, car, barn, etc.
4. War - The general shouted "Fire!"
5. We need to fire this woman. She's just not working out.
6. The forest was engulfed in fire.
7. The superhero had the power of fire.
8. Fire-breathing dragon.
9. Sitting around a campfire

Out-of-the-Box:

1. The light surrounding Him danced like fire. Despite the flames, the air was as cool as an early spring day. I couldn't take my eyes from the vision...

I am finding it quite interesting how each of us uses the prompt word "fire" in different modalities. Some use the word itself, some use the attributes of the noun, some use manifestations of the phenomena, etc.

Tricia wrote:Out of the Box: Pillar of Fire. God used to lead the Israelites in the Wilderness.

Tricia, this could be an out-of-the-box idea--for a secular website or publication (where the readers might not be familiar with the allusion). Here at FaithWriters, maybe not so much...

...so if you went with this, you'd want to give it your own unique spin. Instead of a re-telling of the story, perhaps tell it from the POV of the pillar of fire. Or from a random non-Israelite desert-dweller who happens to witness it. Or from an Israelite child who wonders if he could roast manna in it...

Barb, I'm more than a little bit curious about why "my car" is on the list for "fire"!

As for your "out of the box" idea--perhaps. I'm going to go a bit outside of the lesson now, and touch on another of my favorite themes: conflict.

In literary terms, conflict is an essential element of a short story. So...worshiping God around a fire-pit is an awesome thing (I've done it many times myself)...but what can you do with it to add a bit of conflict?

someone with inner hurts who's singing outside but aching inside?

a spark flies out and someone jumps up, whooping, but their enthusiasm is mistaken for fervor?

DanielK wrote:A battle between two modern-day armies, complete with tanks and missiles, and all that, around the edge of one of those bogs. The Gunfire turns the battle-ground into a raging inferno, and the soldiers are more at risk of being burnt by the bog than they are of dying from flying bullets.

Daniel, you're awesome!

I enjoy your entries so much--they're always a welcome change of pace. Some time...not necessarily for the challenge, but some time...I'd love to see you write something small and internal--and STILL infused with the kind of energy and conflict that you're so good at.

Just a little dare for you...(and if you do it, I'll attempt an action story or a fantasy. You on?)

Thanks for the fun assignment. To answer your question, Yes. You have given me a valuable insight when my hands or fingers, much less, my mind, become temporaily paralyzed.

What a great way to lose the paralysis. I look forward to the next challenge.

Oh, I have submitted an article in the "Hmph!" challenge. I hit the mark this time without--a Eureka. My last entry was not as Eeky; I didn't squeeze the mouse ... my article was more implied, I guess.

This is fun! Like a game of Password or the old Tom Kennedy game show: You Don’t Say.

Pam

Oh, I used to love those game shows--maybe that's where I learned word association and brainstorming.

I was especially intrigued with an item from your first list: fire ants! I can see a lot of potential there, either for a very dramatic entry or even a humorous one.

I'd be interested in some more brainstorming from you--maybe 5 more items--without limiting yourself to phrases that BEGIN with "fire". Sort of like I did with "horn" in the original lesson...what do you think?